Late score helps K-State football edge rival KU, 21-17

Matt Galloway themattgalloway

Saturday

Nov 10, 2018 at 2:37 PMNov 10, 2018 at 2:37 PM

MANHATTAN — Kansas football came oh-so-close to an outcome that would’ve been both its first conference road victory and first win against rival Kansas State in over a decade, but in the end, the Jayhawks couldn’t get a grip.

Quite literally.

Quarterback Peyton Bender fumbled with his team trailing by four with less than a minute left and the Jayhawks on the doorstep of the Wildcat red zone, blowing KU’s opportunity at the upset victory in an eventual 21-17 defeat at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. Counterpart Alex Delton put K-State up for good with a 21-yard rushing touchdown with 2:46 remaining.

Here’s how it happened.

The Jayhawks (3-7, 1-6 Big 12) held a 3-0 lead at the end of a first half filled with miscues and missed opportunities on offense. While the KU defense half the Wildcats (4-6, 2-5) and Delton to just 59 total yards in the period, the KU offense failed to capitalize on a pair of golden opportunities that could’ve made its advantage greater.

An 18-play, 94-yard drive ate up nearly 10 minutes in the second quarter but ended with a Gabriel Rui 21-yard field goal, with head coach David Beaty and opting not to go for a fourth-and-1 from the K-State 4-yard line. The Jayhawks’ next drive featured a pair of would-be touchdowns go awry — Bender was off the mark on a pass to a wide-open Steven Sims that instead went for a 26-yard gain, and while Bender was perfect on a 33-yard pass to Kwamie Lassiter, the freshman wide receiver dropped the score at the goal line.

That second drive ended with the conclusion of the first period, the Jayhawks unable or unwilling to attempt an end-of-half Hail Mary or 57-yard field goal attempt from Rui, who earlier this season hit a 54-yarder and would’ve had a strong wind at his back. The Jayhawks were without a timeout, having spent all three ahead of offensive plays earlier in the half.

Both offenses came alive in a high-scoring third quarter. Alex Barnes got the Wildcats on the board with a 24-yard rushing touchdown up the middle — he was untouched on the play — but Bender responded with a 9-yard strike to Jeremiah Booker to retake the lead at 10-7. Barnes again put K-State in front with a 2-yard rushing score on a direct snap out of the Wildcat formation on a drive aided by a facemask penalty against the Jayhawks’ J.J. Holmes.

KU jumped ahead on the first play of the fourth quarter, Bender finding Sims in stride for a 65-yard catch-and-run touchdown with the senior wide receiver bursting away from a pair of K-State defenders and into the end zone. Then, on the Wildcats’ subsequent drive, Delton was stuffed just 1 inch short on a fourth-and-1 attempt at midfield.

Holding penalties wiped away a pair of long runs by Herbert and Pooka Williams, and on the latter, tight end Mavin Saunders was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct after attempting to hide and then kick the officials’ flag, setting up a first-and-27 scenario from the K-State 1-yard line in a drive that ultimately ended in a punt with 5:02 left.

On K-State’s ensuing drive, Barnes converted a fourth-and-2 attempt near midfield on a direct snap out of the Wildcat formation to set the table for an eventual 21-yard scoring dash by Delton to put K-State up 21-17 with 2:46 remaining. And while KU drove into Wildcat territory, set up with a first-and-10 from the K-State 33-yard line, Bender lost possession of the ball on a pass attempt, an empty hand making the forward motion as the ball fell to his side and was eventually recovered by K-State’s Bronson Massie.

KU continues its season next Saturday at No. 6 Oklahoma, while K-State will host Texas Tech. Both start times remain unannounced by the Big 12.

This is a developing story. Check back later for more coverage of Saturday’s game.

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